Rotary liquid treating drum



Nov. 28, 1950 E. (5. WILSON ROTARY LIQUID TREATING DRUM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1948 l Illllll l IIIHHHIIHIHQ l I HIHIIHIHIIIIH I F i I II II II II ll IIIIIHI llllllll S w n 0 m w 5 t n t V A W E G R 0 CL 6. N V E Nov. 28, 1950 E. G. WILSON 2,532,002

ROTARY LIQUID TREATING DRUM Filed Aug. 25, 1948 4 Sheets-Sh'efiet. 2

Invenor EVAN GEORGE w/Lson/ M T M Attomey Nov. 28, 1950 E. 6. WILSON 2,532,0fl2

ROTARY LIQUID TREATING DRUM Filed Aug. 25, 1948 4 Sh9eLS-Sheet 3 EVAN BGEORGE WILSON Attomays Nov. 28, 1950 E. e. WILSYON 2,532,002

ROTARYLIQUID TREATING DRUM Fig-led u 25, 1948 4 Sheets- She a; 4

' Inventor EVAN GEORGE WILSON Attorneys Patented Nov. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application August 25, 1948, Serial No. 46,055

In Great Britain August 25, 1947 6 Claims.

This invention mainly relates to the treatment of materials by liquids, having more particular reference to the rapid and effective draining of liquids from receptacles or their equivalent (hereinafter, for convenience of description only, designated drum) by automatic or self-clearing grid-like means designed to prevent contamination of the liquid to be drained, whilst permitting only small solid, or more or less solid, matters to pass therethrough.

Self clearing liquid drainage means, according to my invention comprises essentially a plurality of hingedly or pivotally supported rods or prongs which, when in closed position, co-operate to form a grating permitting adequate liquid drainage, but preventing all but very small pieces of material from passing therethrough. Usually said rods or prongs are disposed in a frame fitted in an aperture provided for its reception in the drum to be drained; and the rods may be arranged in opposed comb-like assemblies on shafts pivoted in bearings secured to the frame.

In the application of said grid to a rotary container such as a washing drum, counter weights actuated through the drums rotation ensure thesudden separation and substantial self-clearing of the rods.

In the application of my invention to the treatment of materials by liquids in apparatus of rotatable drum type, my invention enables the treatment process to be accomplished more rapidly and efficiently than heretofore, thereby effecting a substantial saving of time and an economy in power and liquid consumption.

In particular, my invention is especially applicable to the washing of pieces of hides, skins, fleshings, and the like, as utilized in the manufacture of gelatine, and, if desired, the subjection, after washing, of said pieces to customary acid treatment, using the same apparatus. Existing apparatus possesses inter alia disadvantages in that insufficient physical shock is-- owing to the accumulation of water-imparted to the material, with the result that the lime is not loosened from the interior of the pieces, and that, whilst additional clean washing liquid (hereinafter, for convenience of reference, designated water) is continuously added, the used and dirty water is not drained off, or is not drained off with sufiicient rapidity, with resultant waste of water, time, and power, and an imperfect washing of the material, this latter necessitating larger quantities of acid to neutralize remaining traces of lime before the required pH value is reached.

To obviate these and other disadvantages, the rotatable drum may include means whereby the material to be washed is cascaded or tumbled during rotation in order to apply the necessary physical shock; means whereby a spray or sprays of clean water is or are directed from components fitted within said drum over the falling material throughout its entire length in order to wash same; means whereby said components are brought successively into operation for a required length of time at a particular point in their rotary travel paths; automatic selfclearing drainage means which permit used water to escape immediately from the drum in order to prevent it from contaminating the clean Water as it is introduced, and also to prevent accumulation of said water in such quantity as would interfere with the cascading of the material; and liquid-tight doors designed to enable the acid process and final washing to be carried out without moving the material from the ap paratus.

In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a revolubly mounted wooden drum, power driven, and fitted with axially-extending shelves projecting radially, or substantially so, in spaced disposition from the inner wall, and said drum being provided in the periphery thereof with self-clearing drainage grids for the discharge of used washing water, and liquid-tight doors for use during acid treatment.

The drum is mounted between a pair of, preferably cast iron, trunnion crosses of which one has a hollow axle whereinto water under pressure is fed to pass, via the trunnion arms, which are also hollow, to spray pipes fitted longitudinally at the rear of each shelf.

A stationary core piece within the hollow axle is provided with a port which admits water to, say, two adjacent trunnion arms, and therefore two spray pipes, only as the drum revolves, and said port is positioned (being adjustable) so that the spray pipespreferably of rubber orsimilar substancecome successively into operation, in

r order to spray clean water directly and continu- Fig. 8 is a view taken at right angles to thatof Fig. '7.

Referring now to said drawings, inwhichlike characters of reference denote like 'orequivalen't parts wherever they occur, I denotes se uent wooden drum, supported on frame components" 2 in bearings 2, and power driven Via atoothed driving rim 3 secured to-one end. Saiddrum i isiitte d, internally with 'ax ially extendin g shelves {which projectmore or 'less radiailyfromihe inner wall thereof, and said drumisprovided with elf-Ch n ge grids e einaft r e-v scribed) generallydesi'gnatedfi wherefrom used washing water is discharged as drum 'i rotates in a washingoperation,

Said drum l is mountedbetween a pair of, prefeliably cast iron, trunnion crosses 6,1, of .which lj'hasa hollow axle 8 wherethrough water under pressureisfed, via a feed tube 9 to an adjustable hollow core piece lB which remainsfstationary,

as the drum revolves- --provid ed with afport Port I l extends for asuficient distancearound the periphery of, core I Q to admit water to the interiors l of the hollow trunnionarms 'Ias their innerfends come into successive alignment with said port H during the drums. rotation,

The outer ends of each of the hollow trunnion armsl communicate with a spray pipe l2, which p'ipesJZ are fitted, as illustrated, at the rear of shelves 4 b means of retaining pieces [3 st refvved or otherwise secured thereto.

Pipesl2 extendthe full length of d1um l, and their ends remot from their connection to trunnionarms 1 are fitted with removable plugs I2 tojfacilitate cleaning and draining. AJ longitudinal, slot I4 is formed in each pipe I2, and by ro tating said. tubes about their longitudinal ages the direction of the water sprayed from slots l4 can be adjusted as required.

Alternatively, there, may be substituted for said spray pipes l 2, rubber tubes, which are longitudi nally slit, such slits being normally maintained. closed bysaidretaining pieces l3,.but are adapted I to open on the supply to the tubes of, wateriunder pressure.

It will be seen that, assuming feedtubefl .be

connected to a supply of clean water under pres:

sure, and drum being rotated byany suitable power unit, clean water will be continuously sprayed upon material placed within drum 5 and which material is being dropped or cascaded from shelves 4 in their rotary pathfrom spray pipes i2 as they come into successive operation, the period of time during which'they operate, and the points in their rotary path at which they commence and cease to operate, being determined bythe position and size of the port ll of hollow core. piece it.

The drainage grids 5 each comprise a frame [6 adapted for water-tight fitment over a framed aperture I? formed in the periphery of drum I, said frame carrying a plurality of hingedly supported metal rods or prongs IS-Which Iwhen in rate suddenly and swing. inwardly on theirsree closed position, form a grid 0r grating permitting adequate water drainage but preventing all but very small pieces of material from passing therethrough with the Water, which water may be led into settling tanks for the recovery of such particles as pass the drainage doors.

Rods l8 are mounted in opposed comb-like assemblies on shafts l9, 19 9 and w pivoted in bearing members 20 secured by screws M] to frame l6, members 29 being configurated as illustrated to limit the angular displacement of reds I8. Mounted on shafts l9 and 19 are toothed quadrants 2P Zl in mesh one with the other; and secured to an end of shaft 19* by lock nuts 22=-.isja curved arm 22 at the outer end whereof is carried a counterweight 24. A similar arm 25. is secured to an end of shaft W by lock nuts 25a, and arms 22 and 25 are connected by a link 'ZGIpin-jointed thereto.

Shafts I9, I9 carry at their ends remote from counterweight 24, arms 21 and 28, respectively,

the outer ends whereof, are connected byalink 24 and the before described system of linkage,

rods. I8'will, during approximately, the lower. half; of the drums rotation, intermesh to form a sieve.-;

like water drainage grid, and that during. the.

upper portion of their travel path they wil1.sepa

spective shafts I9, 19", 19 and 19, soas to discharge within drum l any particles of hide or fiesh'which may have become lodged-between same and which would otherwise prevent com plete drainage. Arms 22, 25, 21 ami'za are ad ju'stable in relation to the shafts upon which they are mounted, and thus the timing of the opening and closing of grid 5 may be varied';' and tofur ther this end, an automatic catch, (not shown") also adjustable, may be fitted to said grids.

Thefr ame lfi of each draining gridis i'secured in position over its respectiveapertured framei'l by means of lockinghandles '(see Figs, 6, 7 and 8) each of which comprises a bifurcated base member 36 wherein is pivoted'ona swivel pf an arm member 32 through the end whereof is? screwed a, preferably stainless steel, set-screw33 Provided with a locknut 33%. Abifurcated portion 34 of a handle 34. is pivoted -forward of the pivoting point of arm 32-to base 35, and aiconi necting link as is pin-jointed by pins stattgj'tg arm"32 and handle 34, as illustrated. The base has a bracket boss stl which is secured by a" nut 35 to a bolt 35 of frame H, and screws 31 are also used to secure said base in position.

5 is placed over frame i'i, handle 34 is moved" to the position shown in Fig. '7, and link 35 causes, set-screw 33 to bear against, surface it? of frame Hi, the toggle action of link 35 eifectively pref venting accidental displacement of said handle. A. limiting stop 32%, is provided on arm. 32 ..asf illustrated.

The speed. at which drum i is rotated during, a washing operationis preferably such that the material falling from shelves i. will be projected clearof the material heaped in the bottomfof the drum, and fall to impact upon thefbajre, board s, thus to sustain sufficient pl'iysi cahshock to' loos en v contained lime, and in'this respe ting when of meal aaei;a ei.ra a;

not be such as would reduce the impact area during operation.

Loading of material to the drum may be effected via existing doors or through doors provided specifically for the purpose.

Liquid-tight doors which enable the acid process to be carried out without removing the washed material from the drum may be fitted in place of drainage doors 5 and locked in position by the existing handles.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a rotary liquid container, a self-clearing grid for the drainage of liquid, such a grid comprising a plurality of hingedly supported rods which, when in closed position, co-operate to form a grating.

2. In combination with a rotary liquid container, a self-clearing grid as claimed in claim 1, in which said rods are disposed within a frame fitted in an aperture provided for its reception in the liquid container.

3. In combination with a rotary liquid container, a self-clearing grid as claimed in claim 1, in which said rods are mounted in opposed comb-like assemblies on shafts pivotally secured in said frame.

4. In combination with a rotary liquid container, a self-clearing grid as claimed in claim 1,

and a counter-weight adapted to be actuated by 30 the rotation of the container and connected to said rods for effecting a sudden separation of said rods of the grid.

5. In combination with a rotary liquid container, a self-clearing grid as claimed in claim 1, in which a frame is mounted on an outlet formed in said container, opposed shafts are pivotally connected to said frame and support said rods in comb-like assemblies, a counter-weight to be actuated through said containers rotation, linkage connecting said counter-weight and said shafts for causing said rods to intermesh and form a sieve-likedrainage grid during approximately the lower half of their rotary travel and during the upper portion of their travel to separate and swing inwardly within the container on their respective shafts.

6. In combination with a rotary liquid container, a self-clearing grid as claimed in claim 1 in which said grid is secured within an aperture of the container by locking handles which are prevented from accidental displacement through toggle linkage.

EVAN GEORGE WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Shaw June 8, 1875 Number 

